Myrtle C. Lewis

Published 1:19 pm Thursday, May 5, 2016

FRANKLIN — Myrtle Baxter Cotton Lewis, 96, was born on March 8, 1920, to the late John and Annie Baxter in Newberry, South Carolina. At the tender age of 12, Myrtle moved with her family to Franklin, Virginia. She died on May 2, 2016,  in Sentara Careplex Hospital, Hampton.

Myrtle C. Lewis

In 1941, she married James Cotton Sr., and to this union five children — James “Buddy” Cotton Jr., Barbara Ann Green, William “Jimbo” Cotton, Myrtle “Sweets” Hughes and Donnie “Boo Boo” Cotton — were born.

Following the death of her husband James, she met and married Willie Lee Lewis.

Myrtle started her first job when she was 22 years old at St. Regis Paper Company. Because she had a very giving and loving spirit, in 1974 she began what would become her passion for over four decades, babysitting. The first child that she babysat was Jermaine Weathers, and her last was Trinity Charity.

Cooking was one of Myrtle’s favorite pastimes. She was very well known for her Classic Chicken Pot Pie.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Lee Lewis; two children, Myrtle Cotton Hughes and Donnie Hugh Cotton; two sisters, Virginia Baxter Morris and Mary Elizabeth Baxter Elliott; and two brothers, William Lee Baxter and John Henry Baxter Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memory: daughter, Barbara Ann Green; sons, James Cotton Jr. (Sheila) and William Cotton (Alicia); brother, Richard Brack Baxter (Ruby); and sister-in-law, Lelia Baxter. She is also survived by grandchildren, Sharon Super (Larry), Rita Graves (Henry), Eric Green, William Cotton, Rinita Williams (Tommy), Wanza Fauntleroy, James “Junie” Hughes, Tammie Green, Derek Cotton, Shardae Hughes and Donnita Cotton.

She will also be missed by a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, friends and acquaintances, including a very special neighbor and friend, Audrey Tan.

The funeral will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, in First Baptist Church, 318 Hall St., Franklin. Burial will be in Southview Cemetery.

Elvin Vaughan Funeral Home, Franklin, is in charge of arrangements.